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Author
Topic: Five Years And Counting (Read 9720 times)

Today is the five-year anniversary of Black Friday (my diagnosis). A week or so prior to this date each year, I remember the pending anniversary and reflect back on the years since. That day seems like just a few weeks ago, but so much has happened since then.

Besides the pneumonia and hospital stay, my health's been good. I am certainly more attentive to health issues - regular Dr. visits, trying to eat better, exercise more, drink less, etc. I've met a lot of great people due to my diagnosis. I've been to a lot of fun places (AMG's). I've become closer to my family.

I've benefited a lot from the friendships, support, and help I've received from many here in these forums. I found them a couple days after diagnosis when I was feeling really lost and like a failure do to becoming infected. Thanks to all those here who've helped make my living with HIV better. All in all, life is good.

i think someone needs to develop a "Happy Aids-aversary" line of cards for occasions like this. I don't know anyone, especially those who have been dx'ed with AIDS, who don't remember exactly the date and time and take a moment each year thereafter to reflect on what has been and what might be.

While in the past many people would have passed away long before reaching a 5-yr anniversary after their diagnosis, you've survived a terrible health crisis and have used that as a springboard to take better care of yourself and to live a fuller life. Whether you would have done that with or without the diagnosis makes no difference. The difference lies in that you have used a positive attitude in a negative situation and have moved forward in your life. Bravo!

Thanks, all. Tim, happy anniversary sounds just fine; Jan, I'm sure we'll keep on having a ball or two! A couple of things I neglected to mention (thanks for reminding me)... Meds - obviously, if I'd been infected years earlier, I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be here now. Another thing that is directly attributable to my diagnosis is school, though that's brought its own stress into my life!

i think someone needs to develop a "Happy Aids-aversary" line of cards for occasions like this. I don't know anyone, especially those who have been dx'ed with AIDS, who don't remember exactly the date and time and take a moment each year thereafter to reflect on what has been and what might be.

I actually am not precisely sure of the day of my diagnosis or even the month. Granted I was so weak when they told me that I was barely walking around on my own and I had kind of come to the conclusion beforehand when I started noticing the thrush developing on my gums. It was sometime in June/July/August.

A week or so prior to this date each year, I remember the pending anniversary and reflect back on the years since.

Thanks to all those here who've helped make my living with HIV better. All in all, life is good.

This is the anniversary week for me too David. It was this time last year I was in that damned hospital bed hooked up to IV and an oxygen tube in my nose. I also want to thank those here who provided helpful input. I think we will both remember early March in this way for the rest of our lives.

Glad to read that 'all in all, life is good' for you. I can honestly say the same for myself at this point.

I have now been diagnosed HIV-positive for 8 years (almost to the week), and on treatment for 6 and a bit years...which also means (this is the real saddo nerdy part) I have been posting here for 6 and a bit years.

I still remember when you joined David and I still remember the night you posted about having PCP. It was a bit of a wake up call too, because your numbers weren't extremely low at the time. Your posts have always displayed a certain compassion and understanding that I've enjoyed. And, I still can't believe you take your Atripla before work; that's some beastly shit for real.

"Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love." - Butch Hancock, Musician, The Flatlanders

I actually am not precisely sure of the day of my diagnosis or even the month. Granted I was so weak when they told me that I was barely walking around on my own and I had kind of come to the conclusion beforehand when I started noticing the thrush developing on my gums. It was sometime in June/July/August.

In the poz personals, I've noticed several people choose the option, "I don't know when I was diagnosed" in the field where you state how long you've been poz. I always thought that seemed strange. I thought, How would they not know when they were dx'd? I could see not knowing how long you've been infected. But, your response helps to explain why many say that.

David, glad things are going well 5 years later and I wish you many, many more.

Congrats on the anniversary (what an odd congratulations!). Glad all is going well though, it's a very encouraging post.

Also it's funny when you realise how long you have been a member of an internet forum... I've been a member of one other forum to do with movies and so on, realised I'd been on for ten years and know quite a few people on there quite well without ever having me then... ah, weird!!

Your fifth anniversary means my fifth comes up at the end of September. It seems like such a long time ago to me now. I recall when several of us met for the first time in baggage claim at the Montreal International airport. it was the beginning of my first AMG...and it is usually the vacation highlight of the year for me. I am hoping things will work out for your schedule and you (and company) will join us in Seattle.

Its certainly a crappy anniversary but also an important one. But I must belong to the small minority who can't remember the month or the date. Not by heart. It's late April or early May. I do remember when my doctor called to confirm the positive status, a week or two after a suspected seroconversion with the antigen but not yet the antibody. I was trying to go about business as usual, and was on my way to a thrift shop. So I just went anyway, I don't remember what I bought, I was kind of a robot for a few days. Clearly I didn't feel like remembering this date exactly, so for the rest of my life a certain date is not going to bother me. I don't remember the date my dad died, but I was with him.

I have troubles with good dates too, like birthdays. Facebook has been helpful for this!

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ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

David, I cannot believe it's only been five years. It seems like you've been around here for much longer than that - and I mean that in a nice way. You're one of our kindest, most level-headed members and I really appreciate that. If everyone was a little more like you, we would have no need for moderators. For that reason, I'm glad you're here. (Although I do wish none of us had the need to be here!) I think I've told you before that I think of you with great fondness.

I recently had my tenth anniversary of being diagnosed (February 22), but I will have been poz for fourteen years in May. And I've been a member here for ten years this month (have no idea of the exact date). I can't believe that either! Time flies.

If you've been poz for five years, you must be close to your five year wedding anniversary too, yeah?

Here's to many more anniversaries for all of us - good anniversaries and ones that are a way of marking another year of survival.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Thanks, everybody; you are all too kind! Ann, I do try to be on my good behavior; not much is accomplished by being high maintenance. You are correct; we do have a wedding anniversary coming up. It'll be 5 years in August that we were married in Montreal at an AMG, though we'll have been together for 12 years in May. It's hard to believe that members and mods. have been here so long; thanks for keeping things in order!

Congrats honey, you're one of my favorite guys around here....I echo what Ann says -- I have a lot of respect and admiration for you. You've handled your diagnosis and your journey thus far with great humility and grace, and behaved like the Southern Gentleman you truly are.

HUGS,

Alan

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"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

newt, my dad use to call all whites Peckerwoods if they had red-hair, of course I knew early on as a child that this was a racial-slur, however, that wasn't the intent of Joe and SteveInToronto in there quote

« Last Edit: March 10, 2011, 04:22:11 PM by denb45 »

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974